Mid-Year Member Update
2023

Brief
Introduction

At the Downtown Austin Alliance, our mission is to create, preserve and enhance the vibe, vitality and value of downtown Austin for everyone. With downtown on the precipice of major transformation, this mission is more critical than ever. Over the past year, we’ve engaged in extensive long-term planning to ensure our organization is optimized to respond to this transformation and shape our city’s growth in a responsible way for future generations.

We used our core values—especially the value of inclusivity—as well as community feedback to guide this process. We sought perspectives from a diverse array of partners and stakeholders to identify downtown’s top priorities for making the area more accessible and appealing to all who live, work, invest and visit here. The result is a 2023-2028 Strategic Plan that focuses on public space activation and experience, mobility, culture and affordability. As we work on transformational projects, from Project Connect to the Palm District Plan, we will continually seek solutions that best incorporate these priorities.

We are also cultivating greater inclusion in our organizational structure and our partnerships. To form the advisory committees that will guide implementation of our strategic plan, we invited the entire community to participate in a public application process. Our board selected 40 new members to serve on our Active Urbanism, Built Environment, Mobility and Public Space Experience committees through April 2025. And our growing partnership with Mexic-Arte Museum and other cultural institutions is bringing downtown to life with programs that honor our past while carrying new traditions forward.

In addition to planning and advocating for downtown’s future, over the last six months we have also enhanced the everyday experience through our Ambassador program and other direct services, new safety initiatives, and inclusive programming and events. We celebrated our 30th anniversary of serving downtown this year, and this update shares how we have worked with both our longtime partners and new partners to cultivate spaces for the community together downtown.

2023-2028 Downtown Austin Alliance Strategic Plan

Learn more about our strategic plan on our website. If you’d like to join a committee, sign up for our newsletter to learn when applications will open.

Our Services

By the numbers
May – October 2023

Ambassadors

22,683
hospitality contacts
15m
square feet power washed
193
safety escorts

Beautification

9,595
graffiti & posters removed
79,702
pounds of trash removed
6
beautification projects

Overtime Police

$258K
spent on APD overtime initiative
2,445
business and hospitality contacts
98%
Compliance Rate for Requests by Our Community Police

Downtown
Ambassadors

The Downtown Ambassadors are the cornerstone of our direct services for the Downtown Public Improvement District (PID), serving as public space stewards and resources for locals and visitors. Every day, our Ambassadors don their recognizable red shirts and pressure wash streets and remove trash, graffiti and posters. They also brighten up our streets through beautification projects, such as their recent work to replace the petunias in Congress Avenue planters with more sustainable native Texas plants.

The Ambassadors follow a regular maintenance schedule, which includes a daily morning patrol near downtown hotels, and they also provide hospitality for major events and conventions. To ensure we are providing optimal service to the downtown community, we created a new online form where business and property owners in the PID may request specific services. We also publish a hotline for immediate needs such as safety escorts, flat tires or battery jumps, which can be reached by calling (512) 937-7422.

The marquee of the Paramount Theatre reads, “Thank You Downtown Alliance Ambassadors.”

A team of Ambassadors adds new plants, native to Texas, in the planters on Congress Avenue.

Downtown safety
initiatives

Targeted Safety Patrols

Following a meeting with the Downtown Austin Alliance in September, the Austin Police Department (APD) implemented a Downtown Safety Initiative by designating several additional officers to focus on areas with violent crime, drug transactions and public order problems downtown. From the start of the initiative through October 31 , this initiative involved 2,140 work hours and resulted in 462 contacts, 25 arrests and 70 field-release citations issued.

The Downtown Austin Alliance and Royal Blue Grocery hosted a free, block-party-style lunch on October 23 to thank officers from APD and the Downtown Area Command for their work and invite downtown community members to meet APD officers and leaders.

To further increase overnight safety downtown, on October 1, 2023, the Downtown Austin Alliance began a private security program to monitor Republic Square daily from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. This six-month pilot program will run through March 31, 2024.

Public Safety Task Force and Forums

The Downtown Austin Alliance convened a new Public Safety Task Force that unites key community representatives and organizations to influence public policy and develop strategies for reducing crime and public order issues. Our shared goal is to make downtown Austin a place that is safe and welcoming at all times. The task force includes representatives from the downtown office sector, small businesses, Austin Hotel & Lodging Association, Downtown Austin Alliance Board, Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association, E. 6th Street Property Owners Association and Opportunity Austin, as well as a liaison from APD.

To educate and engage the broader downtown community, we host virtual monthly safety forums for an average of 60-80 attendees. These include safety updates from APD along with an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.

APD officers enjoy free lunch from Royal Blue and the Downtown Austin Alliance as a thank you for changes in downtown patrols.
Downtown community members talk to APD officers at a meet and greet.

Homelessness
Update

The City of Austin has implemented efforts to create more than 500 additional temporary shelter beds for people experiencing homelessness. These include temporarily opening the Austin Convention Center's Marshalling Yard (300 beds), doubling occupancy in two city-owned hotels (130 beds) and leasing the former downtown Salvation Army shelter to temporarily add 100 beds.

Additionally, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson's leadership led the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to award $64 million in funding to Austin community programs for assistance folks experiencing homelessness. This funding includes a $5 million allocation to Caritas of Austin and LifeWorks for housing support. The remaining funds are set aside for The Other Ones Foundation to develop more than 200 new, non-congregate shelter units, with funding for other non-congregate shelter projects.

Panelists at Downtown Austin Alliance’s Issues & Eggs breakfast series discuss “A balanced approach to addressing homelessness in Austin.”

Downtown
Mobility Update

Austin Core Transportation Plan (ACT)

With multiple transformative infrastructure projects such as Project Connect and I-35 Capital Express Central on the horizon, it is critical to plan how our core street grid will interact with this new infrastructure. The Austin Core Transportation Plan (ACT) is studying mobility options into, out of, within and through downtown Austin by balancing the street’s right of way with multimodal options for enhanced user experience.

The Downtown Austin Alliance and the City of Austin Transportation and Public Works Department, formerly known as the Austin Transportation Department, partnered to engage downtown stakeholders in the planning process. In late 2022 and early 2023, the city surveyed thousands of community members on their downtown travel habits and preferences. In August 2023, we reconvened our working group to review the ACT draft plan and recommendations. We will continue to monitor efforts as the final plan is released.

Austin Core Transportation Plan (ACT)

With multiple transformative infrastructure projects such as Project Connect and I-35 Capital Express Central on the horizon, it is critical to plan how our core street grid will interact with this new infrastructure. The Austin Core Transportation Plan (ACT) is studying mobility options into, out of, within and through downtown Austin by balancing the street’s right of way with multimodal options for enhanced user experience.

The Downtown Austin Alliance and the City of Austin Transportation and Public Works Department, formerly known as the Austin Transportation Department, partnered to engage downtown stakeholders in the planning process. In late 2022 and early 2023, the city surveyed thousands of community members on their downtown travel habits and preferences. In August 2023, we reconvened our working group to review the ACT draft plan and recommendations. We will continue to monitor efforts as the final plan is released.

Project Connect

The Downtown Austin Alliance strongly supports Project Connect and has taken a decisive role in researching and advocating for transit design plans that will maximize mobility downtown. After the Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) released five light rail alignment options in Spring 2023, we formed an Ad Hoc Working Group of critical stakeholders along the corridors and evaluated the proposed alternatives over the course of four sessions. We developed and sent ATP our recommendation for an on-street light rail that connects into downtown via a new bridge at Trinity Street. In Summer 2023, ATP formally adopted this recommended alignment.

We continue to advocate for enhancements to this alignment, including an additional station at or near Wooldridge Square and an airport connection. Recently, we hosted ATP at our quarterly Issues & Eggs series in November 2023. At this workshop-style event , ATP shared next steps for the project and community members provided input on the vision for the light rail and user experience.

I-35 Capital Express Central

The Texas Department of Transportation’s I-35 Capital Express Central project reached a critical milestone with the approval of its Final Environmental Impact Statement in August 2023. TxDOT released its Record of Decision to begin construction early next year. The Downtown Austin Alliance is a longtime supporter of this transformative infrastructure project, which will lower the main lanes of I-35 through downtown and enhance bridge crossings along the highway. Over the past six months, we worked with partners to advocate for the project at TxDOT, the City of Austin and Travis County.

Our Future 35: Cap and Stitch

Downtown Austin Alliance leads the Community Steering Committee that is shaping engagement and co-creating a vision for reclaiming 15+ acres of land and buildable space (caps) for community needs when I-35 is lowered below ground. The Downtown Alliance and the City of Austin submitted a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Reconnecting Communities Grant application in October, seeking $1.12 million in federal funding to establish an Equitable Mobility Study. In September we gained City Council approval to apply for a $105 million USDOT Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods grant to fund capping from Cesar Chavez to 4th Street.

Research

State of Downtown
quarterly reports

This summer, the Downtown Austin Alliance launched two new resources for the community: State of Downtown Quarterly Reports and Flash Reports. Our Quarterly Reports share the latest downtown economic indicators such as statistics on visitors, hotel and office occupancy, development, rent, and housing. Our Flash Reports share deep dives into interesting data trends as they arise. View our Quarterly Reports and Flash Reports here.

Downtown development
highlights

New developments continued to add density and vibrancy to downtown Austin this year. As capital markets continue to feel pressure from rising interest rates and employers reevaluate their commercial real estate needs, it is anticipated that new development activity will slow down as the market finds balance. Highlights for 2023 to date include:

  • Five buildings have been delivered in 2023, adding more than 1.3 MSF of office, residential, and hotel space.
  • There are an additional 33 projects planned for downtown.

Our emerging projects summary features all projects that have been recently completed, are under construction or are being planned downtown.

A Downtown Austin Alliance Ambassador cleans a corner trash container in front of Stella San Jac.
A trio of cranes rise over the development site of The Republic.

Storefront retail
business report

The Downtown Austin Alliance is compiling our 2023 Downtown Austin Storefront Retail Business Report, which we will release January 2024. We are surveying downtown storefront retailers to learn what challenges downtown businesses are facing and how we can advocate for solutions. The report will also share data on the operating statuses of downtown retail businesses.

Advocacy

The Downtown Austin Alliance is a full-time advocate for Downtown Austin. We listen to community members and work diligently to champion the plans, policies and programs that will best meet their needs. Some of our recent successes include:

  • Downtown Liaison: We secured a downtown liaison in the City Manager’s office, with whom we meet monthly to convey issues and challenges faced in the Downtown PID.
  • Project Connect: We gained unanimous support from City Council, Capital Metro, and Austin Transit Partnership for the Downtown Alliance’s recommended alignment of Phase 1 light rail.
  • Palm District: City Council unanimously adopted the Palm District Plan in September 2023 after our sustained advocacy to council members and the mayor’s office.
  • Mental Health Diversion Pilot: We successfully advocated to city staff and the mayor’s office to include $2 million for a Mental Health Diversion pilot in the City of Austin’s FY23-24 budget.

Republic Square

Active, Urban Greenspace

As the everyday steward of Republic Square, the Downtown Austin Alliance continually makes enhancements to increase the park’s appeal, accessibility and activation. This year we invested in an extensive lawn beautification and garden restoration process to increase sustainability, add native and climate-adaptive plants, and bolster long-term soil health. In May 2023, we closed the lawn for re-sodding and stormwater drainage upgrades. We also fabricated and installed new dog waste disposal stations with custom artwork. As part of its five-year pledge of $325,000 toward Republic Square improvements, this year Capital Metro donated park benches and lean-on rails at the nearby bus stops.

New Partnerships

In partnership with Trail of Lights Foundation, the Downtown Austin Alliance is proud to present a new holiday tradition, Lights at Republic Square from Nov. 27, 2023, through Jan. 8, 2024. Republic Square, which is the shuttle pick-up/drop-off point for the Trail of Lights, will transform into a winter wonderland full of lit trees and holiday programming. This will expand the magic of the Trail of Lights while creating a new downtown holiday destination.

Additionally, the Downtown Austin Alliance will sponsor a free movie series in Republic Square produced by Blue Starlite, on the second Friday every other month beginning Dec. 8, 2023.

People gather to enjoy the new lights at Republic Square brought in for the holidays by the Trail of Lights Foundation.

A group carries their lunches past the new lawn at Republic Square.

Active
Urbanism

Old Bakery & Emporium Mural Wall

Austin Parks Foundation, the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department and the Old Bakery & Artisan Emporium are partnering with the Downtown Austin Alliance to transform the Old Bakery Park at 10th and Congress through revitalized green space and a new Writing on the Walls mural that tells the story of this area of Austin.

In August, after 18 months of public engagement, we released the Engagement & Vision Report, which will guide a new rotating mural wall program. In September, we released a public call for artists, bringing in over 50 submissions. An independent panel, composed of local creatives and art experts, reviewed the candidates and recommended Ruben Esquivel, a fifth generation Austinite and muralist, for the project. We will continue to engage the community as Ruben curates downtown’s next mural. mural.

Old Bakery & Emporium Mural Wall

Austin Parks Foundation, the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department and the Old Bakery & Artisan Emporium are partnering with the Downtown Austin Alliance to transform the Old Bakery Park at 10th and Congress through revitalized green space and a new Writing on the Walls mural that tells the story of this area of Austin.

In August, after 18 months of public engagement, we released the Engagement & Vision Report, which will guide a new rotating mural wall program. In September, we released a public call for artists, bringing in over 50 submissions. An independent panel, composed of local creatives and art experts, reviewed the candidates and recommended Ruben Esquivel, a fifth generation Austinite and muralist, for the project. We will continue to engage the community as Ruben curates downtown’s next mural. mural.

Musicians Activating Spaces

In October 2023, we launched our first recurring Musicians Activating Spaces (MAS) series called Records @ Republic with DJ Kay Cali and friends bringing the park to life with music every Thursday evening. We launched MAS in 2022 to showcase local musicians at downtown events. This series supports Austin’s creatives and brings more opportunities for people to enjoy free music together.

We also partnered with St. David’s Episcopal Church to present World Music Encounters, a monthly performance series that brings together local musicians and regional musicians performing genres of music from all over the world. The series started in September 2023 and runs through May 2024.

Mexic‐Arte Museum

The history of Republic Square and the 5th Street Mexican American corridor demonstrate the diversity of thoughts and cultures that have long come together downtown. It is vital that our city grows in a way that honors our cultural history. That’s why the Downtown Austin Alliance is partnering with Mexic-Arte Museum to bring cultural exhibits and educational programming that celebrates Mexican, Mexican American, Latinx , and Latin American traditions while fostering inclusivity and economic development in downtown Austin.

In partnering with Mexic-Arte Museum, we are collaborating to create and install educational banners at Republic Square, the birthplace of the 5th Street Mexican American Heritage Corridor, as part of The Heritage Preservation Grant with the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department. The banners will tell the story of the heritage corridor and will be unveiled at Mexic-Arte Museum’s 2024 Cinco de Mayo Festival with other educational activities. We also support the museum’s year-round Free Sundays program, which enables 275 visitors per week, on average, to enjoy educational programming at no cost.

Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation

The Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity. In partnership with the Downtown Austin Alliance, the Foundation allows stakeholders and the public to participate in the critical work of advancing downtown through charitable donations and partnerships. The Foundation works to achieve community-driven initiatives that celebrate the vibe of Austin through resource development, cultural placemaking in public spaces, and parks throughout downtown.

The implementation of these programs is made possible through charitable contributions from community partners to the Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation. We fundraise to support the Downtown Vision, Downtown Austin Alliance Strategic Plan and to engage with Austin’s stakeholders. The Downtown Austin Alliance absorbs all overhead and administrative expenses of the Foundation, which ensures every dollar raised goes toward programs that enhance downtown Austin.

In 2024, we will release our first impact report detailing how the Foundation’s work has enhanced downtown Austin’s vibe, vitality and value.

Interested in supporting the Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation? Make your donation here.

Downtown Alliance team:
National experts

Several Downtown Austin Alliance leaders presented at the International Downtown Association’s 2023 Annual Conference & Marketplace in Chicago.

Jenell Moffett presented “Facilitated Forum: Place Management by and for People of Color” at the 2023 IDA Conference.

Photo by: Ebony Walton, Downtown DC

Jenell Moffett presented “Facilitated Forum: Place Management by and for People of Color” at the 2023 IDA Conference.

Photo by: Ebony Walton, Downtown DC

Melissa Barry presented “Legacy Highways in Our Downtowns: What Do We Do with Them” at the 2023 IDA Conference.

Emily Risinger presented “Advocating for Downtowns: Securing Federal Funding for Revitalizing City Centers” at the 2023 IDA Conference.

Photo by: Ebony Walton, Downtown DC

Bill Brice presented “Facilitated Forum: Homelessness” at the 2023 IDA Conference.

Raasin McIntosh presented “We’re in the Money: 501(c)(3)s & Earned Revenues” at the 2023 IDA Conference.

Photo by: Ebony Walton, Downtown DC

Vanessa Olson presented “Facilitated Forum: Membership Organizations” at the 2023 IDA Conference.

May-October 2023
Events & Highlights

Future of Downtown Event

On May 7, 2023, the Downtown Austin Alliance invited the community to celebrate our 30th year serving downtown. This event at Fareground featured food, live music and the unveiling of our 2023 State of Downtown report.

Issues & Eggs

Our quarterly Issues & Eggs events, which invite community members to learn about downtown issues over breakfast, kicked off in September 2023 at St. David’s Episcopal Church. More than 350 attendees listened to a panel of experts from Austin’s homelessness service providers.

Fiesta de El Grito

On Sept. 15, 2023, we partnered with Univision, Saltillo Sister Cities and Mexic-Arte Museum to present Fiesta de El Grito in Republic Square. This event marked the 150th anniversary of the first El Grito celebration at Republic Square. More than 2,000 attendees enjoyed food vendor booths, folklorico dancers, Mexican and Tejano music, plus Mariachi Texas State and a historical re-enactment of Mexico’s call for independence from Spain from the Mexican Consulate of Austin, the Honorable Pablo Marentes.

Viva La Vida Festival and Parade

The Downtown Austin Alliance was a sponsor for this year’s Viva La Vida Parade , which attracted 20,000 people to 4th Street and Congress Avenue for the parade, low-rider exhibition, hands-on art activities and demos, shopping and performances celebrating Día de los Muertos. Members of our Ambassador team and staff participated in the parade to celebrate and showcase our growing partnership with Mexic-Arte Museum.

Paramount Theatre Partnership

During Paramount Theatre’s Summer Classic Film Series, we partnered with the theater to activate two of their films through photo opportunities, in-theater activities and giveaways of sweet treats and gift cards to downtown businesses.

May-October 2023
Financial Update

PID Assessment Rate

In June 2023, the Downtown Austin Alliance Board of Directors and City Council approved a reduction of the Downtown Public Improvement District assessment rate for calendar year 2024. The current assessment for downtown property owners is $0.10 per $100 of valuation over $500,000. In 2024, the assessment rate will be $0.0925 per $100 of valuation over $500,000.

Clean Audit

Our FY22-23 financial statements received an unqualified opinion from our auditors, Montemayor Britton Bender PC. The auditors opined that our consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Downtown Austin Alliance as of April 30, 2023.

Income & Expenses

As of Oct. 31, 2023, we have recorded $6,460,700 of our projected $13,202,000 revenue for FY23-24. Of that, $6,101,237 represents PID assessment revenue. Our expenses as of October 31 total $6,200,533.

Contact us

To learn more about the Downtown Alliance or if you have questions about your membership, please reach out to Bill Brice, Vice President of Investor Relations.